Machine for indenting characters on metal plates or other like



C.. F. GAUNT.

MACHINE FOR INDENTING CHARACTERS 0N METAL PLATES OR OTHER LIKE ARTICLES.

. 2 APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. 1919. 1,421,074.

Patentefi June 27, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

Invenkor l'ne 19 Charlas 1 F. Gaunt er N'h) Fig. 4-

. C. F. GAUNT.. MACHINE FOR INDENTING CHARACTERS 0N METAL. PLATES. OROTHER LIKE ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6.. 191-9,

Patented June 27, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEE-T 2.

Charles F'. Gaunt lnvenl'or C. F. GAUNT.

MACHINE FOR INDENTING CHARACTERS 0N METAL PLATE$ 0R OTHER LIKE ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6, I919.

Patented June 27, 1922.

F. GaunI' Cha rlfis InvenIor per-RI'I'orney C. F. GAUNT.

MACHINE-FOR INDENTING CEMRACTERS 0N METAL PLATES OR OTHER LIKE ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DE'C.6, 191.9. 1 ,42 1 ,0'74. Patented June 27, 1922.

' '4 SHEETS SHEET 4.

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CHARLES E. ,GAUNT, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENG-LAND.

MACHINE FOB, INDENTING CHARACTERS ON METAL ARTICLES.

To (all 'LUlZOHbiZ may concern: I

Be it known that l, Cnsnmss FREDERICK Gianni, of lli arstone ParadeWorks, in the city of Birmingham, England, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines for Indenting Characters on Metal Plates or Other likeArticles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a'full, clear,and exact description thereof.

This invention has reference to machines or apparatus for indentingletters and numbers on medals, labels, metal plates and the like.

At the present time in stamping the recipients name and number round:the periphery of a war medal, it is customary for the medal to be rolledbetween two slides one of which is plain and the other is fixed andformed of type set up to indent the mans name and number 011 the medal.This method however is slow as the type has to be set up and fixedletter by letter for each individual slide and medal.

It has also been proposed to employ a machine in the nature of atypewriter for indenting letters, numbers or the like on medals, metallabels and the like, said machine havin punches adapted to be struck bya hammer or pressure piece and bearing the characters to be indented andcarried by type levers connected to linger lovers with keys adapted tobe depressed to bring the punches one at-a time on to the work, saidmachine having means operated by the finger keys and space bar forholding and this class and comprises means for electrically operatingthe hammer or pressure piece so arranged as to bring the same intooperation immediately after the lever holding the letter or number fallsdown into position said hammer or pressure piece being suitably guidedand the electrical mechanism being so arranged that the act of theoperator pressing on one of the keys will bring the corresponding letteror number into position and also cause the hammer or PLATES OR OTHERLIKE Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 27 1922 Applicationfiled December 6, 1919.

Serial No. 343,058.

pressure piece to fall and immediately the operators finger is taken offthe key boardthe hammer or pressure piece will rise and allow the leverwlth the letter or number to rise also. My invention also comprises im--proved means for gripping, holding and supporting a medal or the like inposition for the punches to strike ,on to the periphery for the punchto'strike on the face of the" same combined with means for turning theholding device at the proper times to form the necessary spaces betweenthe characters as they are. punched in a circular line on the face to beelectrically operated as aforesaid, my invention further comprisesimproved means for gripping and-holding and supporting the medal ormetal label or the like in position for the punches and to strike instraight lines on the face of the same.

In machines of this class it has previously been proposed for the typeletter or num ber on the end of the type lever to be properly guided onto the work by movinginto a tapered recess in a guide plate before beingstruck by the hammer or pressure p1ece,'also it has been proposed toprovide a pair of clampingplates to hold between them the plate or parton which the letters or numbers are to be indented, these clampingplates beingr adapted to be turned centrally and combined with means forturning them at the proper times to form the necessary spaces betweenthe characters as they are punched:

in a circular line on the face-of the plate, also it. has been proposedfor the carriage forthe blank to be combined with automatic step by stepmovement to space the character impressions properly on the plate andalso a line adjusting movement to provide for moving the plate toaccommodate two or more lines of impressions.

It is preferred for the levers carrying the letters or numbers to have adownwad action on to the work.

For full comprehension however of my invention reference must be had tothe ac companying drawings in which similar reference charactersindicate the same parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a back elevation partly in section of portions of a knowntypewriting machine combined with additional mechanism and meansembodying my invention and adapted for indenting letters numbers and thelike around the periphery of a war medal or the like;

Figure 2 is a back elevation partly in section of a modified arrangementof the striking hammer and its operating means;

Figure 3 is a back sectional elevation of a portion of the medal holderrepresented in Fig. 1 but shewn open for the reception or removal of amedal;

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the machine shewn in Fig. 1but with the hammer raised out of action, whereas in Fig. 1 the hammeris shewn in action;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the ratchet mechanism of the same forturning the medal and its holder;

Figure 6 is a back elevation partly in section and Figure 7 is a sideelevation of a slightly modified arrangement of the medal holder;

Figure 8 is a back sectional elevation of a part of the said machine butadapted for indenting letters, numerals and the like in a circular lineor lines on the face or faces of a war medal or the like; and

Figure 9 is a plan of the means shown in Fig. 8 for holding andrevolving the medal or the like during the operation;

Figure 10 is a plan of means for use on the saidmachine when employedfor indenting letters, numerals and the like on to the faces of metallabels and the like in straight lines;

Figure 11 is a back sectional elevation of the same Figure 12 is a crosssectional elevation of the same taken on line X X of Fig. 10; and

Figure 13 is a cross sectional elevation of the same taken on line Y Yof Fig. 10.

In the particular known kind of typewriter illustrated by my drawingsthe levers 2. which usually carry the type now carry the letter orfigure punches or the like and are adapted to strike down on to the topof punches are mounted on fulcrum pins 3 and their short arms areconnected by the connecting wires 4 to the finger key levers 5 to theupper fore ends of which the finger keys 6 are fixed, the finger kevlevers working at their back ends on the fulcrum bar 7. 8 is the usualspace bar the side levers of which with the finger key levers 5 act onthe universal bar 90 underneath for actuating the ratchet feed. Allthese parts are well known. It is to be understood that although only afew of the type levers 2 are shewn on my drawings the machine possesesthe full coniplements each carrying at its outer end its own particularletter, number or character cut on the fore end of a punch 9 which ismounted and fixed in the upper end of the type lever 2 and is adapted tostrike down on to the periphery of the medal 1 as the correspondingfinger key is depressed.

The means which I employ for support ing and holding the medal 1 or thelike whilst the letter or number is being struck on to its periphery andfor turning the medal or the like round through one or more spaces aftereach operation can be arranged in various ways: For instance when it isrequired for the medal or the like to be marked on its periphery then acircular clamping device is preferably arranged as illustrated in Figs.1, 3, and 6 consisting of two circular jaws marked respectively 10 and11 preferably made of just about the proper diameter so as to fitagainst the face of the. medal within the circular projecting rims 12 onthe two faces of the medal (see Figs. 1 and 6) the medal or the likebeing additionally supported by the portion of its periphery oppositethe part where the blow is struck resting on the roller 13 Figs. 1, 3and 4 or resting against the are shaped top of the block 14 (Figs. 6 and7) arranged immediately below or otherwise just outside the two circularclamping jaws 10 11. Means are provided for opening and closing thesetwo clamping jaws 10 1.1 sufficiently to allow of the medal 1 beingplaced between them to rest on the roller 13 or in the are shaped recessof the block 14 so that when the circular aws 10 11 close on to themedal or the like 1 the said medal or the like is gripped and held bythe jaws in the proper position for the punch or the like 9 carried bythe lever 2 to indent the letter or the like upon the periphery. Theclamping jaws 10, 11 are preferably arranged as shewn on my drawings,where it will be seen that the jaw 10 forms the front end of acylindrical member part 15 which is made of slightly smaller diameterthan the circular jaw 10 and is mounted with its axis horizontal to turnin a bearing 16 of the small head stock 17, the base 18 of which isfixed on to the frame 19 of the machine. The cylindrical member 15 isprevented from moving endwise in its bearing by the shoulder 20 formedon the member 15 and the collar 21 fixed theremantra turning in thesleeve 23 any "convenient means as by a teather or set pin or the like.28 is a coiled wire spring in compression contained within the hollowsleeve 22 and-adapted to force the member 22 with its circular jaw 11against the face of the medal and to grip the same firmly against theother jaw 10.

- which is furnished with an end knob 30 and fixed to the centreot thejaw 11 for the purpose of pulling it back for the removal of the medalwhen required. The roller 13 on the periphery of which the medal bearsas aforesaid can conveniently be mounted on an axle pin 31 carried by asuitable bracket 32 fixed on to the base part 18 of the head stock orifth'e block 1 1 (see Figs. 6 and '7) is employed then this block 14 canconveniently be fixed as by screws 34 to the face of the head stock 17and be arranged to be set up towards the medal as by set screws 35 inthe lug 36.

The means for locating the letter orinumber punch in its exact positionon the periphery of the medal preparatory to its being struck by thehammer can "conveniently consist of a steel collar 37 made with acentral hole just the proper size toreceive the punch and the top of thehole being countersunk to form a guide tor the punch and this collarcan'convenien'tly be carried by fitting in a recessed hole ina plate 8 8whichis adjustably fixed on the fiat top of the head stock 17 andpedestal 25. The means for adj u'sta'bly securing this plate in position consists of screws 250 mounted in upwardly projecting shoulders 251on the headstock and pedestal and bearing against the opposite ends 01the plate.

The hammer for striking the punch 'to indent theperiphery o f the medalwhilst being held as aforesaid is preferably (although not necessarily)combined with the machine so as to be operated by striking the fingerkeys but this is not absolutely necessary as the punches may forinstance be e'a'ch struck by a light hand hammer after having'b'eenbrought into position in consecutive orderby the finger keys.

On my drawings I have illustrated two difi'erent ways of mounting andoperating the striking hammer when combined with the machine. In thearrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 1 the hammer is arranged to be operatedby the operators foot pres- 29 is a central stem sure' and'in this casethe hammer head 40 has a'le ver =or shank 41 which is'mounted on afulcrum pin 12 carried by a bracket 18 fixed to the machin'eframe 1-9and on the lever or shank 41 there is a connection 14- "connected by adownwardly extending wire or co'rdor the like 45 to a stirrup ortrea'dle convenient for the operators foot to; move the hammer down whenstriking the blow the hammer bein raised to its norn'ral position by thecoi led spring 46 connecting the "tail end 47 of the hammer sha'nkftothe eye'4e8 on the machine frame 19. The raised position of the hammeris indicated in Fig. 1 by dot-ted lines and by full lines in Fig. 41-.19 is affixed stop on the face of the bracket 13 with" which the stoppart 150 of the hammer-comes into contact when-"the hammer is; raised.

p Any suitable arrangement of ratchet mechanism can be employed to beoperated by the. finger levers 5 or by the space bar 8 and adapted toturn the medal holding jaws and'med'al through the space of one letterafter each letter or figure has been struck. A convenient arrangement ofmechanism is illustrated on my drawings and is as follows: Fixed on theend of the member 15 there is a ratchet Wheel 51 having the same numberof teeth as there are to be letters or figures and spaces between thewords and groups of figures round the periphery of the medal, and aratchet wheel 52 of the same diameter and pitch is fixed on the end ofthe sleeve 23. In order to operate these two ratchet wheels there is foreach of them ratchet lever marked respectively 53, 54, and adapted toturn about the axis of the ratchet wheel and each carrying at itsouterend a pawl 55 to engage with the ratchet teeth- These ratchetlevers 58, .54

are respectively connected as by downwardly projecting links 56 to theupwardly projecting arms of the cross bar 58 the downwardly projectingsides 59 of which are fixed to the side levers 60 of the universal barso that after any of the key leverse or thespace bar 8 has beendepressed through a short space the universal bar 90 is thereby moveddown taking with it the pawls '55 through a little more than the spaceof one tooth and then on the upstroke after the hammer 41 and the punchlevers '2 have risen clear of the medal 1 the pawls 55 engage with onetooth of each of their corresponding ratchet wheels '51, 52

and turn the same'and'the jaws and medal through a space of one letteror number. Suitable means such for instance as the spring catch 61carried by the spring 62 from theQfra-ine 19 of the machine is employedto engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 51, "52 and to hold theratchet wheels with the jaws and medal in the exact position and preventthem from turning too far; or other suitable known mechanism may beemployed for that purose.

p After any particular letter or number punch 9 has been brought downinto position as in Fig. 4 by depressing the corresponding finger key 6,then whilst the punch is thus in position the hammer 10 is as aforesaidcaused to strike its blow on to the punch and indent the same into theperiphery of the medal which is meanwhile securely held by the jaws l0and 11 and by resting on the roller 13 or block 1 1 underneath. Thedepression of the finger key to bring down a punch lever as aforesaidmoves the ratchet levers 53, 54, as aforesaid and on the rising of thefinger keys the ratchets turn the ratchet wheels 51, 52 through thespace of one tooth to form the proper space for the next letter ornumber or character and when the medal is finished it is readily removedby opening the jaws by pulling the bar 29 as aforesaid, and the nextmedal or the like can be introduced, and held between the jaws.

Instead of operating the hammer by foot pressure as aforesaid othermeans may be employed and in fact the preferred arrangement is tooperate the hammer by the action of an electro magnet controlled by theuniversal bar 90 which is operated by the finger keys. Said electromagnet may for instance be arranged to work with a plunger asillustrated by Fig. 2 where it will be seen that the electro magnet 63is mounted on and insulated from a bracket 64 fixed to the machine frame19 and is furnished with a plunger 65 which at 66 is jointed by aninsulated joint to the attachment 67 fixed on the hammer shaft 41. Theelectro magnet 60 is wired to a battery or other source of electricitysupply and also to a contact piece 68 (see Fig. 4) on the universal bar90 which, when the universal bar has been depressed by a finger leversufficiently to bring down one of the levers 2 and its punch 9 intoposit-ion, comes in contact with a fixed contact piece 69 which canconveniently be carried by a cross bar 70 fixed on the machine framethis contact piece 69 being in the circuit from the electric magnet sothat the circuit will now be completed and the hammer will immediatelybe caused to fall on to the punch 9. When the operators finger is takenoff the finger key and the finger lever rises the circuit through theelectro magnet is broken and the hammer flies up by the spring 46 andbefore the punch 2 rises the hammer is sufficiently high to be clear ofthe same. As the universal bar 90 is operated by depressing the spacebar 8 as well as by the finger levers it follows that the hammer wouldbe brought down occasionally when a punch lever 2 has not been broughtdown, and in this case a suitable cushion or buffer should be provided.for instance as indicated by dotted lines at 71 F ig, l and carried bythe frame of the machine which buffer will prevent the hammer strikingon to the collar 37. Or if desired the contact piece (58 may be fixed onto an additional universal bar which extends only underneath the fingerkey levers 5 and does not extend underneath the space bar lever so thatin this case the hammer will only be brought down after one of the punchlevers has been brought down.

When the machine is furnished with the electrically operated hammer asaforesaid and is required to indent letters numbers or other characterson to the face of a medal or the like in a circle then the medal or thelike has to be so held and supported that the punch or the like willstrike on to the face of the same and I provide means for turning themedal or the like axially after every letter number or the like has beenstruck or after the sgeces between the groups have been formed. Figs. 8and 9 illustrate suitable means for supporting and intermittenly turningthe medal or the like as aforesaid but these means and mechanism areonly given as an example and not as limiting my invention to thisparticular arrangement as obviously this part of my invention can bemodified in various ways and has to be modified when the punch levers 2are arranged to act in a different manner to that in the machineillustrated. In this arrangement of my invention the medal or the like 1lies face upwards on a circular block 7 2 carried on the turn table 7 3which has a downwardly projecting central shank 74 mounted to turn in afixed pedestal 75 fixed to the face of the machine frame 19. Mounted onthe turn table 73 there are two clamping plates 76, 77, which areadapted to be adjusted between guide bars 78 on the top of the turntable and the opposed edges of these plates 76, 77 are V shaped orotherwise formed so as to grip the perphery of the medal 1 between. themand they are adapted to be set up by set screws 79 and are fixed on tothe top of the table by screws 80. Fixed to the underside of the turntable thereis a ratchet wheel 81 the pitch of which corresponds with therequired spaces from letter to letter on the medal and this ratchetwheel is shewn as being operated by the bar 58 fixed on the side arms-of the universal bar said bar 58 being furnished with an upstandingbracket 82 which is jointed to .a bell crank lever 83 fulcrumed at 84 toa fixed lug 85 of the machine frame. The upstanding arm 96 with the bellcrank lever is at 87 jointed to the connecting link 88 which at one endis jointed to the outer end of the ratchet lever 89 which carries thepawl 91 for engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 81; the otherend of this lever 89 is mounted on a fulcrum pin 92 carried by a boss 93from the pedestal 75. The guide collar 37 and its carrying plate 38 areadjustably fixed to the upstanding side arms 94 of the pedestal. It isto be understood that this pedestal and the turn table take the place ofthe pedestal 17 and accessories shewn in Fig. 1 for holding the medal tobe marked on its periphery. It will be seen that the ratchet mechanismdescribed will cause the turn table and medal to be turned through onespace at the proper times after each letter or number or the like hasbeen struck. Any suitable detent or the like, not shewn on my drawings,has to be provided to hold the turn table and ratchet wheel stationaryafter each movement and prevent it from turning too far.

When the machine is furi'iished with an electrically operated hammer asaforesaid is required to be used for indentingletters or the like instraight lines on labels or the like or on the faces of medals or thelike, then the table or the like on which the label, medal or the likeis arranged on a carriagead-apted to be operated laterally, that is fromside to side of the machine, by any well known mechanism as used in atypewriter as such carriage takes the place of the carriage which in atypewriter carries the platen. For my purpose the said table carryingthe medal, label or the like is adapted to be moved and fixed at rightangles to the line of movement of the carriage so as to make the spacesbetween the line. .In Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 I have illustrated asuitable arrangement of carriage and table for use on the said machinewhen it is to be employed for marking numbers or the like in straightlines on labels or the like and a similar arrangement can be employedfor marking letters numbers or the like 111 straight lines on the faceof a medal but in this case the holding means which in Figs. 10, 11, 12and 13 are shewn suitable for holding a metal name plate have tobemodified so as to grip and hold a circular medal or the like.

94 is the flat table mounted on the flat top of the carriage 95 whichlatter is adapted for lateral movement in the machine as is thecarriageof a typewriter and is adapted to be operated by similarmechanism from the universal bar but this mechanism being well known isnot shewn on my drawings. The flat plate like table 94 is adapted toslide along the top of the cariage 5 in guides 96, to make the spacesbetween the lines of letters, numbers or the like. The name plate 98lies on the table 94 and is held in place by fitting in recesses 99, 100in the two gripping plates 101, 1025 which are adjustably clamped on tothe top of the table 94 by the set screws 103. Fixed crosswise to theunderside of he t b e 9 there is a toothed rack 104 which projectsthrough a slot 105 in the table and engages with a toothed pinion 106 onthe operating shaft 107 which is mounted in bearings 108, 109' in thecarriage and at its outer end is furnished with means such as the millerknob 110 for turning it to move the car} riage to and fro. The screws111 screwed into the table from the underside through cross slots 112 inthe top of the carriage prevent the table from rising off the car riagc.The table is moved forward that is in the direction indicated by thearrows in Fig. 10 by turning the operating shaft 107 and teeth of therack 104 two coiled wire springs 115 are provided topull the'table 94backwardly as the ends of these springs are respectively connecteddownwardly projecting pegs 116 fixed to the table and correspondingdownwardly projecting pegs 117 fixed to the carriage 109. The spacingbetween the lines is attained by the ratchet wheel 113' fixed on theoperating shaft 107 gearingwith the pawl 114 carried by the end of thecarriage 109 v(see Fig. 13) so that after every line of figure lettersor the like has been indented on the name plate 98 carried by the table94 which is mounted on the carriage, the operator by the milled knob1'10 turns the shaft 107 and the ratchet wheel 113 and moves the tableforward through the space of one tooth so as to commence the next lineof the label or the like 98. When the label isfinished the table ismoved back by the springs 115 after the pawl 114 has been lifted.

.Vhat I claim is as'follows:

1. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination with blankgripping mechanism; of a fixed guidelocated in close prox imity to theblank and consisting of a carrier of'plate form having a central openingand a collar fitted. with said opening, a plurality of punches each ofwhich'i's movable to and from position within the collar and a ham-'merfor striking each punch when in said position for the purpose setforth. p

2. In amachine for indenting metal blanks the combination with blankgripping mech-' anism; of a fixed guide located in close proximity tothe blank and consisting of a carrier of nlate form having a centralopening and a cellar fitted with said opening, a plurality of puncheseach of which is movable to and from position within the collar, and ahammer for striking eachpunchwhen in said position and electrical meansfor operating said hammer. p

3. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination with theframe thereof and blank gripping mechanism; of a fixed guide located inclose proximity to the blank, a plurality of manually operated leverseach being fulcrumed at one end in the said frame and carrying. a punchat its: opposite end.

adapted to be swung to position within the guide, and means for exertingpressure upon each punch when in said position for the purpose setforth.

' 4. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination with theframe thereof and blank gripping mechanism; of a fixed guide located inclose proximity to the blank; a plurality of manually operated leverseach being fulcrumed' at one end in the said frame and carrying a punchat its opposite end adapted to be swung to position within the guide,and a hammer adapted to strike each punch when in said position andmeans for actuating the hammer.

5-. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the Combination with blankgripping mecha nism; of a fixed guide located in close proximity to theblank, means for adjusting said guide relatively to the blank, aplurality of punches each of which is movable to and from positionwithin the guide, and means for exerting pressure upon each punch whenin said position for the purpose set forth.

6. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination with fixedsupporting members, and blank gripping mechanism carried by saidsupporting members; of a fixed guide mounted upon said supportingmembers in close proximity to the blank and consisting of a carrier ofplate form having a central opening therein and a collar fitted withinsaid opening, means for adjusting the carrier relatively to the blank,said means consisting ofadjusting screws carried by the supportingmembers and engaging opposite sides of the carrier, a plurality ofpunches each of which is movable to and from position within the collarand a hammer for striking each punch when in said position for thepurpose set forth.

7. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination with blankgripping mechanism; of a fixed guide located in close proximity to theblank, combined means for gripping the guide and for adjusting the samerelatively to the blank, a plurality of punches each of which is movableto and from position within the guide, and means for exert ing pressureupon each punch when in said position for the purpose set forth.

8. Ina machine for indenting metal blanks the "combination with a pairof supporting members, blank gripping mecha nism consisting of a pair ofjaws having circular gripping faces and rotatably mounted one in each ofsaid supporting members, a fixed guide mounted upon each of saidsupporting members in close proximity to the blank when in positionbetween the jaws, a plurality of punches each of which is movable to andfrom posi tion vithin'the guide and means for exerting pressure uponeach punch when in said position for the purpose set forth.

9. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination with a pairof supporting members, blank gripping mechanism consisting of a pair ofjaws having circular gripping faces and rotatably mounted one in each ofsaid supporting members, a fixed guide mounted upon each of saidsupporting members in close proximity to the blank when in positionbetween the aws, a plurality of punches each of which is movable to andfrom position within the guide and means for exerting pressure upon eachpunch when in said position, and means whereby said jaws are rotated apredetermined extent when one of said punches is moved to positionwithin the guide.

10. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination with a pairof supporting members, blank gripping mechanism consisting of a pair ofjaws having circular gripping faces and rotatably mounted one in each ofsaid supporting members, resilient means for yieldingly maintaining themovable jaw in blank engaging position and manually operated means forwithdrawing said jaw from such position, a fixed guide mounted upon saidsupporting members in close proximity to the blank when in positionbetween the jaws, a plurality of punches each of which is movable to andfrom position within the guide and means for exerting pressure up-- oneach punch when in said position, and means whereby said jaws arerotated a predetermined extent when one of said punches is moved toposition within the guide.

11. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination with a pairof sup-- porting members, one of said supporting members having anannular bearing member with a closed end; a blank gripping mechanismconsisting of a pair of circular gripping faces said movable jaw havinga portion of sleeve form formed integrally therewith and rotatablyfitting within said annular bearing member, a spring located within saidsleeve portion and bearing between said movable jaw and the closed endof said bearing member and adapted to yieldingly maintain the latter inblank gripping position.

12. Ina machine for indenting metal blanks the combination with a pairof supporting members, one of said supporting members having an annularbearing member with a closed end; of blank gripping mechanism consistingof a pair of circular gripping faces said movable jaw having a portionof sleeve form formed integrally therewith'and rotatably fitting withinsaid annular bearing member, a spring located within said sleeve portionand bearing between said movable jaw and the closed end of said bearingmember and adapted toyieldingly maintain the latter in blank grippingposition, and means for withdrawing the movable jaw from blank grippingposition, said means consisting of a rod having its inner end connectedto said jaw and extending axially therefrom through the sleeve portionand the closed end of said. annularbearing memberand having .a fingerhold at its outer end.

13. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination with blankgripping mechanism consisting of a pair of rotary jaws one stationaryand'the other movable relatively thereto each having a circular grippingface, a plurality of punches, a plurality of levers for respectivelyactuating said punches and means for intermit tently rotating saidjawsin unison when one of said punches is actuated, said meansconsisting of a sprocket wheel operatively connected to each of. saidaws and adapted to rotate in unison therewith, a space bar adapted to bemoved when one of said levers is actuated and means effecting anoperative connection between the bar and said sprocket wheels andadapted to convert the movement of said bar into rotary movement of thesprocket wheels.

14. In a machine for indenting the peripheries of metal discs and thelike, the combination with blank gripping mechanism, a plurality ofpunches each of which is adapted to be moved to position engag ing theperiphery of the blank, means for exerting pressure upon each punch whenin position and means in bearin relation with the periphery of the blankat a point diametrically opposite the portion being in dented, saidmeans consisting of a roller.

15. In a machine for indenting the peripheries of metal discs and thelike, the combination with blank gripping mechanism, a plurality ofpunches each of which is adapted to be moved to position engaging theperiphery of the blank, means for exerting pressure upon each punch whenin position, means in bearing relation with the periphery of the blankat a point diametrically opposite the portion being indented, said meansconsisting of a roller, means in bearing relation with the periphery ofthe blank at a point diametrically opposite the portion being indentedand adapted to dissipate the shock of the impact of the punch thereon.

16. In a machine for indenting metal blanks a plurality of punches eachof which is movable to position, a plurality of keylevers adapted toactuate saidpunches, a universal bar adapted to be moved by each of saidkey-levers when the latter is operated, a hammer adapted to strike eachpunch when in said position with the blank and electrically operatedmeans for actuating said hammer when a key-lever is operated, said meansconsisting of a magnetic coil, an armature movably located within saidcoil and operatively connected to said hammer, a contact located infixed position adjacent said universal bar, a second contactmounted'upon said bar and adapted toengage the first contact when thebar is actuated and an electric, circuit including said; contacts and,magnetic coil.

17. In a machine for indenting metal blanks, blank gripping mechanism, afixed guide located in close proximity to the blank, means for adjustingthe position of said guide relatively to the blank, a plurality ofpunches each of which is movable to position within the guide and inengage ment with the blank, a plurality of keylevers adapted to actuatesaid, punches,

universal bail. adapted to bemovedby each oi said key-levers when thelatter is operated, a hammer adapted to strike each punch when in said,position with theblank and electrically operated means for actuatingsaid hammer when a key-lever is operated said means consisting of amagnetic coil, an armature movably located within said coil andoperatively connected to said hammer, a contact located in fixedposition adjacent said universal bar, a second contact mounted upon saidbar and adapted to engage the first contact when the bar is actuated,and an electric circuit including said contacts and ma netic coil.

18. In a mae liine for indenting metal blanks the combination of theframe thereof including a bracket and blank gripping mechanism, a fixedguide located in close proximity to the blank, a plurality of puncheseach of which is movable to and from position within the guide and meansfor exerting pressure upon each punch when in said position said meansconsisting of a hammer having an elongated shank and fulcrumed in saidbracket at a point in close proximity to its end opposite to thatcarrying the hammer head, resilient means for yieldingly maintaining thehammer in position out of punch-engaging position, means limiting theextent of movement of the hammer away from punch engaging position andmeans for causing the hammer to engage each punch when in positionwithin the guide.

19. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination of the framethereof including a bracket and blank gripping mechanism, a fixed guidelocated in close proximity to the blank, a plurality of punches each ofwhich is movable to and from position within the guide and means forexerting pressure upon each punch when in said position said meansconsisting of a hammer having an elongated shank and fulcrumed in saidbracket at a point in close proximity to its end opposite to thatcarrying the hammer head, resilient means for yieldingly maintaining thehammer in position out of punch-engaging position, means limiting theextent of movement of the hammer away from punch-engaging position, andelectrically operated means for causing the hammer to engage each punchwhen in position within the guide.

20. In a machine for indenting metal blanks the combination of the framethereof including a bracket and blank gripping mechanism, a fixed guidelocated in close proximity to the blank, a plurality of punches each ofwhich is movable to and from position within the guide and means forexerting pressure upon each punch when in said position, said meansconsisting of a hammer having an elongated shank and fulcrumed in saidbracket at a point in close proximity to its end opposite to thatcarrying the hammer head, resilient means for yieldingly maintaining thehammer in position out of punch-engaging position, means limiting theextent of-movement of the hammer away from punch-engaging position,electrically operated means for causing the hammer to engage each punchwhen in position within the guide, said electrically operated meansconsisting of a magnetic coil, an armature movably located within saidcoil and operatively connected to said hammer, a contact located infixed position adjacent said universal bar, a second contact upon saidbar and adapted to engage the contact when the bar is actuated and anelectric circuit including said contacts and magnetic coil.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. GAUN '1.

Witnesses:

GoRDoN G. CosKE, WILLIAM J. C. HnWETsoN.

